Replay Story Fest - Shows — Replay Storytelling

Festival Shows

Replay Story Fest Opening Night: Taken by Surprise

Friday, April 10, 2026

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

In 2016 we started Replay Storytelling… and ten years later we've grown in ways we couldn't have possibly imagined.

Join us for the opening night of Replay Story Fest with true stories of curveballs, chaos, and coincidences.

Featuring stories from Michael Salvatore, Madhu Aurora, Justin Shaw, Michelle Marie, Paul de Tourreil, and Ava Val!

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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Between Us, with Christel Bartelse and Joanne O’Sullivan

Saturday, April 11, 2026

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

What happens when two veteran storytellers who barely knew each other keep getting invited onto the same stages, and keep telling eerily similar stories from their lives?

What began as a bit of side-eye and a quiet “who is that, anyway?” has evolved into a shared story told between them.

Between Us brings together two seasoned storytellers and queens of the solo show who, after developing a friendship over the years, compare notes on womanhood, fertility struggles, loss, and life’s adventures. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they don’t.

It’s funny, honest, and just a little bit scrappy—in the best way.

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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InnerGenerational: Aligned ArtiFacts 

Saturday, April 11, 2026

9:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Through spoken word poetry, music, comedy and narrative stories, we explore the artifacts passed down through familial bloodlines, complicated silence and ancestral memory. InnerGenerational: Aligned ArtiFacts is a multidisciplinary storytelling showcase featuring Anto Chan, Janice Jo Lee and Hannia Cheng.

Aligned ArtiFacts examines the emotional heirlooms we inherit; resilience, survival strategies, unspoken grief, tenderness, discipline, expectations, humour and asks…what happens when we consciously align with our healing and release what no longer serves?

Blending wit, vulnerability, and lyrical depth, our showcase invites audiences into an intimate excavation of intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and reclamation.

This is storytelling as ritual.  As revelation.  As repair.

We are living relics.  Breathing testimonies.  DNA passed down generations.

Come witness what becomes possible when past, present, and future share the same stage.

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 8:30pm, show starts at 9pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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9 Lives, 8 Near-Misses: Life Lessons from Near-Death Events by Paul De Tourreil

Sunday, April 12, 2026

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

A car crash full of kids.A knife-wielding madman.True love, pernicious patriarchy, and the perils of both.

Swiss-Indian ninja Paul Shanker De Tourreil is a kung fu cat with nine lives, but after decades spent careening through bizarre, often comical misadventures, he’s down to his last life…

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD COME:

Don’t miss the Toronto premiere of the show that CBC called “honest, vulnerable, relatable and moving” (Dionne Codrington, CBC Montreal).

What starts off as a rollicking comical romp through a series of near-death moments transforms into a story as personal as it is relatable.

With a gentle touch and a warm heart, postitpaul weaves through tales both light and dark, with plenty of surprises along the way (and maybe even some treats)!

Winner: Most Promising Comedy Award (2024 Montreal Fringe)
Nominee: Just For Laughs Outstanding Comedy Award (2023 Montreal Fringe)

“Paul is a beautiful storyteller! The show is warm and sincere and POWERFUL.” – Nick Carpenter, Playwriting Teacher, National Theatre School of Canada

“Honest, vulnerable, relatable and moving... held my attention straight through“ – Dionne Codrington, CBC Montreal

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

Paul's Elevator Pitch:
“It's a hilarious show about all the times that I almost died. You should come- it might actually make your life better...and if it doesn’t, there’s a money-back guarantee!”

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 5:30pm, show starts at 6pm

Canadian-born Swiss-Indian storyteller Paul Shanker de Tourreil is a writer (award-winning), fight choreographer (intermittently), biologist (non-practising), and kung fu teacher (retired). When he’s not delighting audiences onstage, he works in mental health care as a suicide helpline responder. He made his storytelling debut in 2023 at Montreal’s Confabulation and has since toured his multi-award-winning solo show “9 Lives, 8 Near-Misses: life lessons from near-death events”, in both English and French, and is honoured to present its Toronto premiere at Replay Story Fest.

Tickets: 20 – 25

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BEST of True Stories Told Live!

Sunday, April 12, 2026

8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

For over 13 years, True Stories Told Live Toronto has been delighting audiences. Now, our city's largest and longest-running true storytelling show brings five of the best true stories they've ever had.

Hosted by Marsha from YesYesMarsha.com, expect to laugh, cry, and do that thing where someone says something that moves you and so you put your hand on your chest and go, "Mmmmm"

Featuring stories from Erin Rogers, Lamia Gibson, Micha Happie Edwards, and more!

“Like a hit of dopamine…it felt like I had won the lottery” - Toronto Star

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 7:30pm, show starts at 8pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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The Story Collider: Searching

Monday, April 13, 2026

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Life is full of questions—but what happens when the search leads somewhere unexpected?

Join award-winning podcast The Story Collider for their live storytelling show where Scientists and storytellers will take the stage to share true, personal stories about the moments that sent them searching. From surprising discoveries to life-changing realizations, these stories reveal the curiosity, uncertainty, and humanity behind science. Funny, moving, and deeply relatable,

The Story Collider transforms science from something you learn about into something you experience. No lectures. No slides. Just great stories about science and the people behind it.

Hosted by Misha Gajewski and Sara Mazrouei

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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What’s Your Story? a Student Showcase

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

After a six -week workshop, 11 storytellers will take the stage sharing moments from their lives—giving you a glimpse of who each of them are.

Featuring stories from Carsen Cassell, Kate Cohen, Steve Austin, Joy Aziza, Cam Garbutt, Diane Janisse, Kriti Jindal, Glaister Leslie, John Lueck, and Karin Fekko!

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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Replay Storytelling: Unexpected Moment

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Our stories, much like us, evolve has we grow. What one story meant years ago, can find a whole new meaning today.

Join us for Unexpected Moments—true stories of tangles, twists, and turns.

Featuring stories from Ronit Rubinstein, Kalpesh Phodkar, Leslie Hetherington, Aditya Tawde, and more!

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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Is This Yours? by Al Lafrance

Thursday, April 16, 2026

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Is This Yours? Is a tale about seeking out unusual heroes, reconnecting strangers with their past, and the search for meaning in other people’s garbage. It’s a storytelling show that takes us deep into the brain of an optimistic board game inventor, and reveals all the ups and downs of creative life in a capitalist state. Simultaneously, life-altering human interactions experienced by the narrator are weaved throughout, emphasizing the need for human connection.

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Al Lafrance started telling stories on stage in 2011, and couldn't stop doing so. Since then, he's shared his tales throughout Canada, the US and Australia, performing hundreds of times at (occasionally) sold out venues along the way. His hour-long shows have won multiple awards, including the Just For Laughs Award for Best Comedy at the Montreal Fringe (3 times!), and being named a Critic's Choice by Now Magazine in 2018. He's currently on touring hiatus, and can be found lurking in thrift stores and book shops throughout the GTA area. He's standing behind you right now.

Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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Funny Stories Only with Listen to This!

Thursday, April 16, 2026

9:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Finding the humour in every story is what this show is all about. Encouraging storytellers and comedians to step out of their comfort zone and deliver truly funny and entertaining stories in a unique mash-up of styles.

Storytellers will embrace the funnier aspects of their stories, while comedians will present their story in a structure quite different from what they're used to, for a unique showcase of surprising, personal, and hilarious stories.

Featuring stories from Phoebe Taylor, Asaf Gerchak, Pooja Joshi, Jonathan Barrie, Ritisha Laungani, and Carlos from Scarborough!

Hosted by Michael Salvatore
Produced by Michelle Marie

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 8:30pm, show starts at 9pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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In Progress: Keith Brown is Magic / Paul Hutcheson is a Nice Guy

Friday, April 17, 2026

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

In Progress gives you a sneak peek into the makings of a new solo storytelling show, working through process of creation.

Keith Brown explores what lead him to becoming a magician and storyteller, touring shows around the world.

Paul Hutcheson is a Nice Guy. At least thats what he's been told. Find out if it's true in this work-in-progress.

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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Musical Musings: Stories behind the song

Friday, April 17, 2026

9:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Join us for true stories behind the song, an evening where each song has a backstory. This electrifying storytelling experience invites musicians to take you on an intimate journey through the stories behind their songs.

From heartwarming to hilarious, each tale uncovers the profound connections between their music and themselves, leaving you moved, inspired, and yearning to learn more!

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 8:30pm, show starts at 9pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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Queers In Your Ears: Halos for Horns

Saturday, April 18, 2026

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Do you remember those magical moments when your grandmother told you fairy tales, transporting you to a world of wonder?

Join Queers In Your Ears as they trade halos for horns, indulge in the seven deadly sins—and wickedly add a few of our own. After all, QIYE has always proven that a little sin never hurt anyone… much.

When we came of age as 2SLGBTQIA+ storytellers, we realized something was missing. In 1997, Rico Rodriguez founded Queers In Your Ears, a storytelling collective dedicated to telling stories about being queer—stories that had long gone unheard. QIYE focuses on original material, embracing a vibrant range of queer voices and perspectives—from personal histories to re-imagined fairy tales—pushing boundaries and bringing bold new dimensions to the art of storytelling.

QIYE is a platform where our queer tales thrive, provoke, and inspire.

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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A Lover Improper…Still by Arianne Shaffer

Saturday, April 18, 2026

9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

In four acts - body, sex, love, pleasure -- veteran storytelling Arianne Shaffer (CBC, TEDx, True Stories Told Live, Replay Storytelling, The Moth), offers an authentic recounting of things lost and (re)discovered: minds, longing, body parts, hope, confidence, mojo… "A Lover Improper… Still" is one woman's global pursuit for big love and tiny spoons.

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 8:30pm, show starts at 9pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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The Perp, The Victim, and The Witness by Zebulon Pike

Sunday, April 19, 2026

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

It's almost certain that many of Zebulon Pike's teachers thought his life would be full of interactions with the police. As a misunderstood child, Zebulon very early on embraced the life of a scofflaw. Not an outright criminal, but someone who never felt the rules applied to him. His teachers were right, but not in any way they imagined, or could have prepared him for. The Perp, the Victim and the Witness is a show about how the rules of society will alter your life whether you want to have anything to do with them or not.

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 3:30pm, show starts at 4pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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Spontaneous True Tales

Sunday, April 19, 2026

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Burdock Music Hall | 1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Five storytellers, each with a wealth of experience in improv, take the stage to share true, personal tales—completely unprepared and off the cuff. What could go wrong?

Featuring performances from Chantal Lim, Sachin Sharma, Marcel St. Pierre, and more!

Hosted by Christel Bartelse

🎟️ Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
💻 This show will be live-streamed. Live-stream tickets are $20.

Doors open at 5:30pm, show starts at 6pm

Tickets: 20 – 25

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